Waterproof receptacle



Patented May 29, 1928.

PATENT OFFICE.

` DANIEL E. STB/AYER, 0F LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA.

- Application led February 1, 1927. Serial 110.165,053.

My invention relates to a water-proof receptacle or carrying case that is especially designed for bathers use, although the container in larger sizes may beadvantageously carried by soldiers, campers, hunters, or persons engaged in outdoor sports or vocations.

The principal objects of my inventlon are `to provide a relatively simple, practical and convenient water-proof case or receptacle that is adapted to serve as a holder for cigarettes, matches and personal effects such as jewelry, money, keys and the like; to provide the water-proof container with clamping means that maybe effectively used for closing the mouth of the container; and further, to provide a water-proof container of vthe character referred to with an elastic member Kthat functions as a cover for the closed end of the container and also as a. strap that may be engaged by the belt or shoulder strap of a bathing suit, thus providing simple and convenient means whereby the closed receptacle lnay be carried. by bathers and thoroughly protected against the ingress of moisture.

With the foregoing and other objects in view, my invention consists in certain novel features of construction and arrangement of parts that will hereinafter be more fully described and claimed and illustrated in the accompanying drawing, in which- Fig. 1 is a front perspective view of a water-proof receptacle of my improved construction and showing the same as it appears before being fully closed.

Fig. 2 is a rear perspective view of the receptacle and showing the elastic band that is utilized as a partial closure for the receptacle.

Fig. 3 is a perspective View of the hinged clamp that is utilized for closing the mouth of the receptacle.

Fig. 4 is a perspective view of the receptacle in closed position. Fig. 5 is an enlarged cross section taken on the line 5-5 of Fig. 4.

Fig. 6 is a vertical section taken through the mouth and neck portion ofthe receptacle and showing the clamping means applied thereto.

Fig. 7 is a plan view of one end of the Referring by numerals to theaccompanying drawing, 10 designates a substantially rectangular bag or pouch that forms the body of the receptacle, said body being preferably formed of rubber or rubber compositionl and formed integral with the upper ends of the 'walls of the body 10, is an upwardly tapering neck portion 411 of the same material as the body 10 and said neck portion terminates in a pair of short vertically disposed walls 12 that normally lie immediately adjacent to each' other, as illustrated in Figs. 1, 2 and 6.

Formed integral with the upper portions .of the walls 12 and extending lengthwise thereof, are ribs 13, which function as reinforcements for the edges of the container adjacent to the mouth thereof and said ribs also serving as. supports for the clamping device that is utilized for closing the mouth of the receptacle.

` The body 10, neck 11l and walls 12 are preferably molded from a single piece of rubber or analogous material, and said parts may be formed so as to have practically the same degree of flexibility and elasticity, a1- though in order that the body 10. of the bag will normally retain its open position and tend to return to such open position after being collapsed, I prefer to form said body so that it has a relatively greater degee of stiffness than the neck 11 and walls 1 Where the receptacle is formed of relatively soft, flexible material, the bod portion 10 thereof may be stayed and stl'ened by means of a substantially rectangular member 14 that is inserted wlthin the body 10, said member 14 being preferably formed of thin material such as celluloid, compressed fiber, or aluminum. Thel upper end of this reinforcing member 14 is open.

Secured inv any suitable manner to the upper portion of one of the side walls of the body 10, is a vertically disposed loop o r strap 15 of rubber, the width thereof being equal to the width of the body 10 of the receptacle, and a portion of this strap or loop cle comprises a pair of small channel shaped members 17 that are suitably hinged to each other at one end and these channel shaped members being of such size and shape as to ends of said members 1 fit snugly over the ribs 13 on the upper ends of walls 12 and when so ositioned, the free project a slight distance beyond the corresponding ends of the ribs.

,c Pivotally mounted on the projecting end of one of these members 17, is a rectangularn loop 18, which, when the clamping members 17 are brought together, is swung around into position on the free end of the other member, thereby serving to lock said members in clamping position upon the mouth of the receptacle (see Fig. 7).

In the use of my improved water-proof receptacle, the reinforced upper ends of the walls 12 are spread apart 1n order to permit articles su'ch as money, keys, jewelry, or cigarettes and matches, to be placed within the body of the container, after which the clamping members 17 are .applied to the ribs 13 and the upper ends of said clamping members secured by means of the kloop 18. The closed mouth of the receptacle, or that portion that is engaged by the clamping device, is rolled o-r folded downwardly and as the neck portion 11 of the receptacle collapses, the rolled portion of the device fits snugly within the upper portion of the body 10 between the upper ends of the sidewalls of said receptacle and the reinforcing member 14 that is positioned therein.

The elastic loop or band 15 is now lprac- -tically turned inslde out or reversed so that it passes entirely around the body of the receptacle, as illustrated in Fig. 4, and the upper portion of said elastic band overlies 1 the rolled or folded upper end of the receptacle and, in addition to protecting said rolled or folded upper end, provides a smooth finish or surface for the upper end of the packed receptacle.

It'willbe understood that the opening 16 in the central portion-of the band 15 permits said band to be reversed in position so as to pass entirely around the receptacle and in the event that said receptacle is applied to the belt o r shoulder strap of a .bathing suit, said belt or strap passes between the elastic loop or band and the front face of the body of the receptacle, as shown by dotted lines in Fig. 4,

yWhile I have shown and described my improved water-proof receptacle as being especially designed for bathers use, it will be understood that the device .may be made in .lar er sizes for the use of soldiers, campers,

simple in construction, inexpensiveV of manufacture and ver e'ective in performing the functions for w ich it is'intended.

It will be understood that minor changes in the size, from and construction of the various arts of my improved water-proof receptac e may be made and substituted for those herein shown and described without departing fromY the spirit of my invention, the scope of which is set forth in the appended claims.

I'claim as my invention:

1. A receptacle formed of flexible waterproof material provided at its upper end with an opening, a clamp detachably applied to the upper end of said receptacle for closing said opening and an elastic strap secured to said receptacle and adapted, when reversed, to pass entirely around said receptacle.

2. In a carrying case of the class described, a receptacle formed of moistureproof material, said receptacle being provided at its upper end with an opening, ribs formedon the walls of the receptacle adjacent to said opening, a hinged clamp adapted to be applied to said ribs for closing the opening in said receptacle and an elastic band secured to the upper portion of said xreceptacle and adapted to encircle the same, said elastic band having a portion that is adapted to overlie the opening at the up er end of the receptacle -and the clamp w en said elastic band is positioned so as. to encircle said receptacle.

3. In a carrying case of the class described',` a receptacle formed of moistureproof material, said receptacle being provided at its upper end with an opening, ribs formed on the walls of the receptacle adjacent to said opening, a hinged clamp adapted to be applied to said ribs for closing the opening in said lreceptacle and a reversible elastic band secured to the body of the receptaclev and adapted to encircle the same when said receptacle is closed. v

4. A 'carrying case ofthe class described comprising a receptacle formed of moisture proof material, the Aupper portions. of the Walls of which receptacle are dexible and provided. with an opening, a detachable clamp for en aging the plortions of the ilexible walls a jacent to t e opening therein for closing the latter, the iiexibility of which walls permits the clamp and the engaged portions of the walls to be folded downwardly into the upper end of the bod of the receptacleA when the same -is closed),7 an elastic strap secured to the body of the receptacle and adapted to encircle the same when closed andl which elastic stra is provided with a sideportion that is a apted to overlie the inwardly folded upper end of so as to encircle said receptacle.

` opening and the walls of the receptacle ad-v 5. In a carryingcase of the class described, a receptacle formed of waterroof material, the upper portion thereof ing flexible and provided with an opening, reinforcing ribs formed on the Walls of the receptacle adjacent to said opening, a clamping device comprisinga pair of channeled.v

members hinged to each other at one end for engaging the reinforced portions ofthe re' 6. The combination with a water-proof re.

ceptacle provided at its upper end with an jacent to vsaid openin having reinforcing ribs formed thereon, o a mouth closing device comprising a pair of channeled members hinged to each other at one end, which channeled members are adapted to engage the reinforced portions of the walls of said rece tacle adjacent to the mouth therein, a latc Ifor detachably securing the free ends of the clamping member to each other and an elastic strap secured to said receptacle and adapted when reversed to encompass said receptacle, and which elastic band is provided with a side portion that overlies the closed end of the receptacle when said band is in position to encircle said'receptacle.

7. The combination With a receptacle formed of moisture-proof material, the Walls of which receptacle at one end are extended to form a contracted neck and there being an opening-through said neck, kof an elastic band secured to the body of the receptacle `adjacent to said contracted neck and said band being provided with 'a centrally arranged opening that permits said band to be turned inside out so as to encircle the -receptacle.

In testimony whereof I aix my signature.

DANIEL HSTRAYER. 

